Signal apparatus for motor-vehicles.



. P. R. HARSH. SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHiCLES APPLICATION FILEDDEC. 30- I915- l,215,272. Patented Feb. 6,1917

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P. R. HARSH;

SIGNAL APFARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHlCLES ICATION FILED DEC. 3b, 1915- APPLPatented Feb. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ilk Hum 1 4 MMM FAUL It. HARSH, F TOLEDO, OHIO.

SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR WOR-VEHIOLE$ Specification of L tters r atent.

Patented Feb. 6, 191 v.

.= Application filed December 30, 1915. Serial No. 69,450.

.is my purpose to provide a stop signal for motor vehicles which will beautomatically illuminated when the brake lever is operated to apply thebrakes so that the operators of vehicles behind the signal equippedvehicle will be enabled to check the speed of their vehicles so as toprevent colliding with the vehicle carrying the signal.

It is also my purpose to provide signal apparatus of the class describedwhich will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency anddurability, which may be im stalled and maintained at comparativelysmall cost, and which may he applied to the vehicle withoutnecessitating any change in the structure of the vehicle.

V ith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forthin and falling within the scope of tie claims.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through 'a motorvehicle equipped with signal apparatus constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sec-v tional view through the circuitcloser,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View therethrough.

Fig. is a view in elevation showing 'one form of signal lamp.

Fig. i a diagrammatic view showing the circuit connections between thelamp and the circuit closer.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates the brake rod of amotor vehicle, such rod forming a connection between the brake lever 2and the brake bandsQ Arranged in juxtaposition to the brake rod 1 is acircuit closer 3 embodying a substantially rectangular casing 4: lyingparallel with the ake rod. Secured in one end of the casing 4 is abinding post 5 and fastened to the inner end of the binding post 5 is acontact stud 6, while slidably mounted Within the casin 4 is a plunger 7having one side provided with a contact stud 8 adapted to engage thestud 6. Secured to one side of the plunger 7 is a conducting strip 9electrically connected with the stud 8 and adapted to wipe over thecontact plate 10 secured to the adjacent wall of the casing- 4 andsecured in such wall of the casing 4 is a binding post 11 electricallyconnected to the contact plate 1.0. Mounted in the casing 4: adjacent tothe end thereof opposite from the plunger 7 is a guide block 12, whilesecured to the plunger 7 and projecting through the guide block 12 is arod 13. Encircling the rod 13 between the plunger 7-and the guide block12 is a coiled expansion spring 14; acting to force the plunger 7 towardthe stud 6' soas to engage the stud 8 with the stud 6. Connected to theend of the plunger rod 13 projecting through the guide block 12 is oneend of a wire 15 or other flexible element and the other end of suchflexibleclement is connected with one egztremity of an arm 16 secured tothe brake rod 1. The rod 16 is preferably adjustably connected to thebrake rod 1 as shown in the drawings so that the position of the arm onthe rod may be changedi 17 designates a signal lamp arranged upon therear end of the vehicle and one side of the lamp 17 is connected withthe binding post 5 by means of a conductor 18 while the other side ofthe lamp is grounded upon the frame of the vehicle asat 19. 20designates a suitable source of electrical energy such, for instance, asa battery and one side of the battery is connected to the'binding post11 by means of a conductor 21, while the other side of the battery isgrounded up n the frame of the vehicle as In practice, the spring actingupon the brake lever to hold the brakes in released position counteractsthe spring 14 so that the wire 15 and arm'116 will hold the plunger7 inretracted position and the studs 6 and 8 out of engagement with eachother. When, however, the brakelever is operated to apply the brakes,the arm 16 is moved v to release the wire 15 and the plunger 7 and thespring 14 reacts to slide the plunger to engage the contact stud 8 withthe stud 6, thereby closing the circuit of the lamp 17, current flowingfrom one side of the battery ,20, through the conductor 21, the bindingpost 11, the contact piate 10, conductor strip 9, stud 8, stud 6,binding post 5 conductor 18, the lamp and then hack to the other side ofthe battery by way of the grounded terminals of the iamp and battery.

In the present instance l have shown the lamp 17 as partment of a casing23 and the outer Wail of this vertical compartmentis formed with theletters constituting the word Stop and these letters may be colored redso that when the lamp is illuminated the signal will be conspicuouslydisplayed. -This casing 23 is formed at the left and right respectivelyof the vertical compartment With horizontal compartments and the outerWalls of these compartments are cut out to provide letters constitutingthe Words Left and "Right and in each of these horizontal compartmentsis a lamp. These lamps may be con-' trolled in any suitable manner sothat the driver of the signal equipped vehicle may notify the drivers ofother vehicles Whenhe is about to turn to the left or right.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred form ofmyinvention by Way of illustration, 1 wish it to beunderstood that I donot limit orconfine myself to the precise details of construction hereindoarrangcd in the vertical com-' scribed and delineated, asmodification, and variation may be made Within the scope of the claimand without departing from. the spirit of the invention.

, I claim: I I

A circuit closer comprising a casing, a stud carried by one end of saidleasing, a plunger in said casing capable of sliding movement therein, astud on said plunger adapted to, engage the first-named stud, a bindingpost secured to one side of said casing, a conductor strip secured tosaid plunger and connected to the stud thereon and designed to Wipe oversaid binding post in' the movement of the plunger, a guide hloclc insaid casing, a rod connected to said plunger and projecting through saidguide block, a spring surrounding said rod between said plunger andguide block and acting to slide said plunger to engage said studs Witheach other, and a cord connected to said rod and projecting-through oneend Wall of the easing and acting to hold the plunger against movementunder the action of said spring.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PAUL unseen.

-Witness: I

Banners S. dozens.

